Can you get herpes without sexual contact?

My partner and I haven't had sexual contact in over a year. She appears to have contracted herpes in the past few weeks. She insists she hasn't had...

01/03/2012

Question

My female partner and I haven't had sexual contact with each other in over a year.

However, she appears to have caught genital herpes in the past few weeks.

She insists she hasn't had any sexual contact with anyone else.

Is it possible that she may have contracted it without sexual contact?

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Answer

Your personal notes say that you are female – aged 34.

So I assume that this is a same-sex partnership. When you say 'she appears to have contracted herpes,' I am assuming that this has been properly diagnosed at a clinic, and that this diagnosis is certain.

Bear in mind that herpes isn’t quite as common as many people think. In 2008, there were 29,000 cases in the whole of the UK.

If she really has got it, then it is possible that she caught it many years ago, and that (as often happens) it is just 'flaring up'.

Although you haven't had any sexual contact with her for a long time, I think it would be wise if you went to a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, for a check up.

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